Buckaroo, OR, is one messed up place, as we rapidly learn in this second issue. The mystery Joshua Williamson weaves is solid enough, and Mike Henderson has appropriately creepy art, but this book needs to pick up the pace a little to pay off its concept.

The Woods #2

Boom! Studios

In James Tynion IV’s and Michael Dialnyas’s first issue, a high school was transported to an alien moon full of things that wanted to eat them. In this issue, things get worse. Tynion balances pulp adventure with a Lord Of The Files-style political dynamic, and Dialnyas turns out some beautiful, lurid alien creatures. It’s becoming a deeply engaging read, and highly recommended.

Rai #2

Valiant

Valiant’s 4001 AD initative continues with this book, an interesting throwback to the dystopian science fiction of 1980s. It’s chock-full of cyberpunk, robots, Japanese fetishism, and the like, and plenty of Matt Kindt’s specialty, intrigue. Clayton Crain’s gorgeous art certainly helps the proceedings as well, and makes this book well worth a read.

Original Sin #3

Marvel

Well, say this for this miniseries, it doesn’t wander far off the point. After last issue’s absurd yet threatening reveal, for the sake of avoiding spoilers let’s just say that we know who the triggerman killing all those mystical creatures is by the end of the issue, and leave it at that. Highly recommended.

Moon Knight #4

Marvel

This is one of my favorite books on the stands right now because its one-off structure and the sheer versatility of Declan Shalvey and Warren Ellis means every issue is something clever, something new, and you can just pick it up with no need to read the other issues. You might get an action movie, or a ghost story, or in this case a straight-up urban legend-styled horror story. No matter what you get, it’ll be beautifully illustrated and superbly written. Highly recommended.

Lobster Johnson: Get The Lobster! #4

Dark Horse

Mike Mignola and John Arcudi continue their riff on the violent pulp heroes of yesteryear… but there’s a lot more to Lobster Johnson than just the brands he leaves on foreheads. This issue actually hints at a more supernatural origin for the guy… and it’s some pretty interesting stuff. The massive fight with the giant robot gorilla also helps.

Ghost #4

This book gets some very much needed character development as we visit Ghost when she was still alive… and ten years old. It’s a heartwarming story that takes a painfully dark turn, and some of Kelly Sue DeConnick’s best writing in a while. Definitely worth a look, especially if you’re just getting into Dark Horse’s superhero books.

The New 52: Future’s End #5

DC Comics

Can I just take a moment here to say that the idea of Firestorm keeping one of his elements trapped in his head for weeks is actually really disturbing and much creepier than this book plays it off as? Seriously, Ronnie Raymond is more or less a complete psycho now. All we need is for him to tell Jason to put the lotion on his skin.

Anyway, it’s fairly clear as this book progresses that it’s a rewrite and mash-up of unfinished storylines from canceled DC books, which isn’t a bad idea in theory. But man, if they’re all as bad as Firestorm’s, maybe we dodged a bullet here.

Magneto #5

Marvel

It was really only a matter of time before Magneto’s tendency to commit property damage and kill people looped around to bite him in the ass. But Cullen Bunn doesn’t make it a huge moment here. It’s a simple one, a careful reminder that Magneto may be on the side of right at the moment, but he’s still a monster. And people still hate him for a reason.

Five Weapons #9

Image Comics

Jimmie Robinson’s manga-esque riff on the “high school for assassins” trope takes a rather goofy turn, but it manages to sustain it and stay the highly entertaining and witty book you should be reading. Definitely pick it up if you haven’t already given it a shot.

Quantum and Woody #11

Valiant

Valiant’s most hilarious book builds up to an absurd conclusion in this issue. Wilfredo Torres and Erica Henderson are well-suited to James Asmus’s script, which is especially tart and funny here. If you like funny superheroes, they don’t come funnier.

I thought “taking pacing queues from the old series” was sort of the point. From listening to Ralph Garman on the radio every morning, I can tell you that he’s a Batman ’66 obsessive. He was asked to write a story like the old show and he did that exactly.

I officially dropped Eternal, come August I won’t be buying it anymore. I’m thinking about dropping more from my subs. looking at this list, I’m so happy I’ve gotten rid of fluff in the past like Clone and Great Pacific.
meanwhile, the rest of the books I’m getting this week are all dope for the most part. EVERYONE needs to be reading Ennis’s Caliban.

And, because of a stupid Diamond listing, I didn’t get the new Vampirella series. Apparently, it is listed as “New Vampirella” even though Comixology and the book’s own cover call it “Vampirella”. In any case, I am surprised you didn’t review it, Dan. it was one of the bigger debuts this week and is written by Nancy A Collins.

Did read Tiny Titans and Futures End. I am one of those people that are happy Tiny Titans is back as it is one of the more solid all-ages titles around. As for Futures End, this week felt like a big ol’ “meh”. And, thanks to a Comic Book Resources poster, I’m beginning to view Mr Terrific as a superhero version of Kanye West. I also somehow enjoyed this week’s Mr Terrific story.

Honestly, I thought about it, and I just hate Vampirella. I’ve never liked the character, and although Dynamite has done really good work with her, I just couldn’t get past my general distaste of the character.

Yeah, I know, but this book was so fart-sniffing in how “edgy” it is, and so tiresome in that everything is an excuse to show boobs, that my patience ran out. The book doesn’t even make use of its own damn concept.